Study Abroad Bloggers

Come and share your time with the indigenous communities in Bolivia

2013-05-13T10:02:51-04:00

Bolivia is a South American country, landlocked by Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. It is famous for the Salar de Uyuni – a giant salt flat in the middle of the desert that turns into a giant mirror during the rainy season. The salt from the surface of the flat combines with the water to create a lithium rich salt solution known as brine. Lithium is a soft, silvery metal symbolized by the letter combination “LI”. Interestingly, the Bolivian Salt Plains contain 70% of the world’s lithium reserves and an extraction process is currently underway. Lithium has many important uses in modern day society. For example, lithium is used in rechargeable batteries and cell phones. Additionally, lithium salts are used to treat bipolar disorder.

Salar de Uyuni is a popular tourist attraction. The salt plain offers fabulous photo opportunities and the hotels located nearby each offer uniquely fascinating views. The best time to see Salar de Uyuni is between 11am and 2pm when the sun is highest in the sky. If you choose to visit the Uyuni Salt Flat during the rainy season, then you will have the advantage of seeing about 25 thousand flamingos! These magnificent pink birds along with a variety of other stunning species descend upon the Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) between the months of November and March. The Red Lagoon is a shallow saltwater lake located in Bolivia close to the border of Chile. The reddish color is caused by the red sediments and the pigments of some algae beneath the surface of the water. One of the disadvantages of travelling during the rainy season is that the roads are really muddy.

Cochabamba, the fourth largest city in Bolivia, is known as the “City of Eternal Spring” due to its Spring-like temperatures that last all year round. In the past, Cochabamba has been inhabited by various groups of pottery experts. This is evident due to the uncountable number of pottery pieces that have been stumbled upon over the years. We know very little about these people, one of the few things we do know however is that they belonged to distinct groups or tribes. This is clear from the differences in their earthenware. For example, one type of pottery is two-tone with geometric designs while another is pinkish with spiral designs.

All of the cultures that inhabited the region of Cochabamba were conquered by the Quechuas (the collective term for several Indigenous Groups in South America). The Quechuas advanced beyond Cochabamba and into the valleys of Santa Cruz where they were forced to turn back. Due to the fact that this area of rolling green hills used to be covered with water, the Quechuas created a name for it out of the words: “Qocha” (meaning shallow body of water) and “Pampa” (meaning grassland). Overtime, the Spanish adapted the term “Qochapampa” to be the word “Cochabamba” that we know and use today.

photo by Juan del Pozo

Valencia - the most modern Spanish city with a beautiful seaside

2013-04-30T09:51:52-04:00

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Four of the key places of interest are discussed below in moderate detail. Valencia Cathedral was built on the site of a former Mosque. Many Christians think that it contains the Holy Chalice which is believed to be the receptacle used by Jesus at the Last Supper to serve wine. There are several holy buildings located all over the world that are said to contain Holy Chalices but Christian Historians claim that all their evidence points towards the Valencian Chalice being the authentic cup.

The 1^st century Chalice was donated by King Alfonso of Spain in 1436. Besides the famous cup, Valencia Cathedral contains various masterpieces crafted by famous Italian artists hired by Pope Alexander VI. The Torres de Serranos is one of the twelve gates from the medieval wall in Valencia. It is one of Valencia’s best preserved monuments as well as one of the most iconic buildings in the city. The Llotja de la Seda, built between the 1480s and the 1540s, is one of the main tourist attractions in the city.

This Gothic style building was declared a World Heritage site in the mid-sixties. The site demonstrates the wealth and power of one of the greatest Mediterranean mercantile cities of all time. The Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (The City of Arts and Sciences) is a complex built for architectural and entertainment purposes. Situated in the drained riverbed of the Turia, the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències is the most important structure in the city of Valencia. The project was undertaken by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela in 1996, and the “city” was officially opened two years later. The complex is made up of the following buildings:

An Imax Cinema,
An Interactive Science Museum,
A Landscaped Garden,
An Aquarium,

And

An Opera House

The main festival in Valencia is Las Fallas. This is a traditional celebration held annually in honor of Saint Joseph. Groups of family and friends dedicate much time to crafting various papier-mâché models to be burned on the final night of the celebrations. Group organizers usually host various dinner parties throughout the year at which guests traditionally eat paella, an identifying symbol of the Valencian people. There are three different types of Paella, all of which contain key ingredients olive oil and saffron:

Valencian: Rice, Vegetables, Meat and Beans
Seafood: Rice and Seafood
Mixed: Rice, Vegetables, Meat, Seafood and Beans

Malvarossa is a beach located in Valencia city centre of. During the weekend, everyone comes down here to do everything from sunbathing to water-skiing. There is a great atmosphere at this beach but if you’re looking for a quiet getaway then this isn’t the best place for you. There are bars and restaurants located all along the beach so it’s a great place to meet with friends for a drink and something to eat. In the summertime, it is traditional among teenagers to bring crates of beer onto the beach and spend the evening drinking and chatting with friends.

Another quieter beach is called Patacona. It is a little further from the centre, but is you’re looking for peace and quiet; then it’s worth the extra mileage. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will have the beach to yourself however, there will be some other people but the crowds will be smaller and the space is bigger. Plus, there is a bridge which obstructs the view of the city; giving you the illusion that you are even further from civilization!

In conclusion, Valencia is a modern city with state of the art construction-work and a choice of sandy beaches. Whether you are the kind of person who enjoys spending all day long on the beach or you prefer to be up and about seeing the sites, Valencia has something to offer you. In terms of sampling typical Spanish cuisine, Valencia is the birthplace of Spain’s signature Paella dish (almost every restaurant and tapas bar will have this on the menu). While there’s no denying that Valencia’s cutting-edge “City of Arts and Sciences” gives the city a modern edge, Valencia is also a historical city in view of the fact that it’s home to an age-old cathedral that allegedly contains an even older piece of drinking apparatus. All in all, Valencia offers visitors a plethora of things to do and see; as well as a wide variety of attractions to keep the whole family entertained for the duration of a medium length holiday.

SEVILLE – FLAMENCO & LEARN SPANISH

2013-04-04T09:29:36-04:00

Flamenco is a style of song and dance that originates from southern Spain. It features guitar and clapping and was first performed by the Romani gypsies. Although originally confined to the south, this Spanish art form is now performed in countries all over the world including Japan. In 2010, UNESCO declared that Flamenco was a protected style of cultural expression. 'Palos' is the formal name for flamenco styles. There are over 50 different palos. Some are sung accompanied by a guitar, others are not. Some are reserved for men and others for women. Recently, however, these boundaries have begun to break down. For example, one traditionally male flamenco dance routine known as the Farruca is know danced by women too. Tablaos are venues where flamenco shows take place.

Tablaos first appeared in the 1960’s. Traditionally, visitors to a 'tablao' enjoyed a flamenco show over a drink and a bite to eat. Lady dancers traditionally wear ankle-length dresses with puffed sleeves and ruffled skirts. The Traje de Flamenco is usually brightly colored and the most famous design, the Traje de Lunares, is red with poker dots. These distinctive dresses were originally worn by gypsies. Nowadays however, the Traje de Flamenco is seen as typical Andalusian attire. It is particularly associated with Seville and the April Fair which begins two weeks after Holy Week. The fair begins at midnight on Monday and goes on for a whole week. For the duration of the fair, the banks of the Guadalquivir River are lined with casetas serving food and drink. Amerispan are offering a Flamenco + Spanish course in Seville which offers participants the once in a lifetime opportunity to be taught by Flamenco dance professionals.

Whether you’ve studied Flamenco before or you’ve never danced a step, you’re guaranteed to learn something new and thoroughly enjoy yourself! This course is suitable for people with all levels of Spanish. Flamenco is a hard dance to learn: it has difficult steps and a particular rhythm. Therefore, students who master it feel very proud of themselves. If you are a passionate person, then you would be an ideal candidate for a Flamenco + Spanish class. Learning one of Spain’s most traditional dances will bring you closer to the fiery Spanish people and their culture. This program is ideal for people wanting to give their language course a cultural twist. In addition to Spanish language classes, students will receive 8 hours of professional dance lessons per week, helping them to master one of Spain’s most beautiful dancing styles.

Photo by SD Dirk http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirkhansen/4532408859

How to make the most out of your plane journey

2013-03-20T06:39:11-04:00

This article aims to present a series of ideas of how to keep yourself entertained on a plane journey. It will give you ideas of what you can put in your hand luggage to alleviate boredom and make the time pass more quickly.

If you are headed to a country where you do not know the language, you could use the flight time to practice a few simple words and phrases. You can pick up a phrasebook at the airport or logon to www.wordreference.com on your laptop or Smartphone. A few everyday sentences will be extremely helpful when you arrive at your destination. If you are going away for a long period of time, you can write a letter to your boyfriend / girlfriend to post when you reach your destination. Remember to have your letter weighed at the post office to ensure you put enough postage on it.

On the majority of long-haul flights, there are screens in the back of the seat in front. You can kill a few hours watching a film. You could also bring your laptop / portable DVD player to use on the plane if you are going on a short-haul flight of if you know you have a specific taste in films. If you have an iPod or an MP3 player then make sure it is charged before your flight. There is nothing more disheartening than switching on your device to find it is almost out of battery! Alternatively, there is often an in flight radio which you can listen to with the headphones provided or your own pair if you have one.

Eating is a great way to relieve boredom: if you´re not a fan of aeroplane food then make sure to bring some of your own – either from home or from the airport. Pick items that are light to avoid any feelings of nausea. For example, biscuits and fruit are both good options. Another way of passing the time is to take regular strolls around the aircraft. Whether you just go to say hi to a friend or family member seated in another part of the plane or just take a toilet break, it helps to get the blood pumping in your legs and feet and also kill a few more minutes!

Sleeping is the best way to make your flight go past in the blink of an eye! If you are planning to sleep on your flight, ensure that you take a pair of earplugs in case of noisy children, a travel pillow and perhaps a blindfold. You can pick up all three items at the airport but they will inevitably be more expensive than if you buy them ahead of time.

Why is Spanish so difficult for English Speakers?

2013-01-31T08:39:48-05:00

This article discusses in detail the main difficulties that a typical English person encounters when trying to learn Spanish. A classic mistake made by English speakers when learning Spanish is using “SER” instead of “ESTAR” and visa-versa. Both verbs mean “to be” in English. “SER” is used when something is permanent and “ESTAR” is used when something is temporary. For example, if a man wanted to say to his girlfriend: “you look beautiful” or “you are beautiful”, he would need to employ a different verb. One of the sentences suggests that the man is talking about today; the other suggests he is speaking in general.

The subjunctive can prove troublesome for English speakers as it is hardly ever used in their language. For example, a simple phrase like: “I want you to buy me a watch” would require the subjunctive in Spanish. The subjunctive is difficult and some students may try to avoid it at all costs, however sooner or later everyone will be forced to use it in order to say what they mean! Another confusing element of the subjunctive is that it is a mood not a tense. This is because the subjunctive can be applied to all the tenses. For example, you can take the verb “sonreír” meaning “to smile” and put it in the future tense (sonreiré) and then apply the subjunctive mood (sonriere)!

Spanish like many Latin-based languages has masculine and feminine nouns. The fact that this does not occur in English can be seen as an advantage or a disadvantage for English speakers learning Spanish. This is because; the idea of masculine and feminine verbs is obviously foreign to English speakers. However, the masculine and feminine verbs in the French language for example may not agree with the masculine and feminine verbs in the Spanish language. It goes without saying that this would cause some confusion. For example, apple may be a masculine noun for a French person but a feminine noun in Spanish! Generally speaking, Spanish masculine nouns end in “o” and Spanish feminine nouns end in “a” so they are relatively easy to learn and remember for English speakers. However, as always, there are a lot of exceptions!

Like masculine and feminine noun, English speakers are not accustomed to an informal and formal form of address. For example, in Spanish, there are two different ways of saying “you”. If you are talking to someone you don’t know, or someone that demands more respect like your grandparents for example, you would employ the noun “usted”. Whereas, when talking to friends or someone you are very familiar with, you can use “tú”. This is relatively easy to get your head around. Difficulties may arise if you go to South America for example, where they use the formal form of address much more than in Spain.

A well-known problem experienced by language students in general is that they may be able to speak the foreign language well in a classroom situation, but when they go to a country where that language is spoken and speak to “real people” it is a different story. This may happen for a number of reasons. Firstly, natives tend to speak very fast. Secondly, depending on what part of the country you go to, people will speak the language with a different accent. Some accents can be easier or harder to understand.